Group receives $5,000 grant from Colorado Garden Foundation

Monday

May 12, 2014 at 3:00 PM

Southeast Health Group of La Junta announced it received a $5,000 grant from Colorado Garden Foundation (CGF). This grant money will support construction of a polycarbonate greenhouse for the horticulture program at Choices in La Junta.

Southeast Health Group of La Junta announced it received a $5,000 grant from Colorado Garden Foundation (CGF). This grant money will support construction of a polycarbonate greenhouse for the horticulture program at Choices in La Junta. The Choices program serves people living with severe and persistent mental illnesses, who often live on fixed incomes and cannot afford to buy fresh fruits and vegetables.

CGF awarded $635,186 in horticulture-related grant projects throughout Colorado, and Southeast Health Group was one of 54 organizations to receive grant money in 2014. Of those, the organization awarded the Andrew Pierce Memorial Grant to Craig Hospital (Craig) for $100,000 to build their horticulture therapy garden at their new entrance. Major grants were awarded to St. Anthony North Hospital for $75,000 for their healing garden at the new hospital in Westminster and $75,000 to the Front Range Community College toward their new greenhouse. Additional 2014 grants range from $500 to $15,000 to fund therapy and healing gardens, greenhouses, educational programs, community gardens, outdoor classrooms, the purchase of garden tools, fruit orchards, landscaping and garden irrigation, just to name a few.

“People living with severe mental illnesses die, on average, 20 years sooner than their same-age peers,” said Becky Otteman, CEO of Southeast Health Group. “One of the main reasons is lack of access to healthy, nutritious foods. This grant and the greenhouse project will empower people we serve to grow their own food, adding extra vitamins and nutrients to their diet. We are very grateful to the Colorado Garden Foundation for their support.”

Grants and scholarships are awarded from ticket proceeds generated at the CGF’s two annual shows: Colorado Garden & Home Show and Colorado Fall Home Show. Since the 1970s, Colorado Garden Foundation has awarded more than $6.2 million and in the past five years alone, grants were awarded to 214 organizations in 39 of Colorado’s 64 counties for horticultural projects and scholarships.

“Every year, we look forward to awarding grants to make Colorado a greener state,” said Jim Fricke, Colorado Garden Foundation executive director. “We couldn’t be more excited to support Southeast Health Group’s greenhouse project. They are a true asset to their community and we hope this grant helps them reach their gardening goals.”

For more information about the Choices program at Southeast Health Group, call 1-800-511-5446, or go to www.southeasthealthgroup.org.

About Colorado Garden Foundation

Colorado Garden Foundation, a nonprofit corporation, 501(c)(3), provides funds for horticultural-related grants and scholarships for the benefit of Colorado. To date, the Foundation has awarded more than $6.2 million for horticultural projects and scholarships throughout the state. Colorado Garden Foundation presents the Colorado Fall Home Show focusing on home renovation, remodeling and sustainable living and the Colorado Garden & Home Show, the Rocky Mountain region’s largest, oldest and most prestigious consumer garden and home improvement show west of the Mississippi in February. For more information, visit ColoradoGardenFoundation.org, Facebook.com/coloradogardenfoundation or Twitter @cogardenfdn.

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